Q1. Choose the correct article: ___ Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world.
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Answer: B. The
'The' is used before the names of mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas and the Alps.
SSC CGL English Comprehension Beginner Practice Set 12
25 beginner questions. Tap an option to check it, or open “Show answer” for the explanation.
Topics: Articles, Subject-Verb Agreement, Idioms and Phrases, Antonyms, Tenses, Synonyms, Spelling, Prepositions, One-word Substitution, Fill in the Blanks
Score: 0 / 0
Q2. Fill in the blank: Each student ___ given a book.
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Answer: B. was
'Each' + singular noun takes a singular verb, so 'was' is correct.
Q3. Choose the correct article: My sister wants to become ___ architect.
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Answer: C. an
A singular profession noun takes 'a/an'; 'architect' begins with a vowel sound, so 'an' is used.
Q4. What does the idiom 'to pull someone's leg' mean?
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Answer: B. To tease or joke with someone
'To pull someone's leg' means to tease them playfully, often by telling them something untrue.
Q5. Choose the antonym of 'COMMON'.
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Answer: A. Rare
'Common' means found often; the opposite is 'rare'.
Q6. Choose the antonym of 'BOTTOM'.
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Answer: D. Top
'Bottom' is the lowest part; the opposite is 'top'.
Q7. Fill in the blank: Many a student ___ failed this test.
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Answer: C. has
'Many a' + singular noun takes a singular verb, so 'has' is correct.
Q8. Fill in the blank: He ___ his keys, so he cannot open the door.
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Answer: A. has lost
The present perfect ('has' + past participle) shows a past action with a present result. 'He' takes 'has', not 'have'.
Q9. Choose the synonym of 'REPLY'.
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Answer: A. Answer
A 'reply' is a response to a question or letter, i.e. an answer.
Q10. Choose the correctly spelt word for 'belonging to another country'.
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Answer: B. Foreign
The correct spelling is 'Foreign': f-o-r-e-i-g-n.
Q11. Choose the correct article: Once upon a time there lived ___ old king.
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Answer: A. an
A singular countable noun mentioned for the first time takes 'a/an'; 'old' begins with a vowel sound, so 'an' is used.
Q12. Choose the synonym of 'OBEY'.
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Answer: B. Comply
'Obey' means to act according to an order or rule, i.e. comply.
Q13. What does the idiom 'to make ends meet' mean?
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Answer: D. To earn just enough money to live on
'To make ends meet' means to manage to pay for basic needs with the money one has.
Q14. Fill in the blank: He ___ in this city for ten years now.
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Answer: C. has been living
An action that began in the past and continues now, with 'for + period', takes the present perfect continuous: 'has been living'.
Q15. Fill in the blank: We must abide ___ the rules.
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Answer: C. by
'Abide by' means to obey or follow rules; it always takes 'by'.
Q16. Choose the synonym of 'ANXIOUS'.
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Answer: C. Worried
'Anxious' means uneasy about something uncertain, i.e. worried.
Q17. Fill in the blank: They ___ football since morning.
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Answer: B. have been playing
An action that started at a point in the past ('since morning') and is still going on takes the present perfect continuous.
Q18. Choose the antonym of 'EARLY'.
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Answer: B. Late
'Early' means before the usual time; the opposite is 'late'.
Q19. Choose the antonym of 'SLOW'.
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Answer: D. Fast
'Slow' means not moving quickly; the opposite is 'fast'.
Q20. Choose the antonym of 'INTERIOR'.
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Answer: A. Exterior
'Interior' means the inside part; 'exterior' means the outside part.
Q21. An abnormal fear of water is called:
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Answer: C. Hydrophobia
'Hydro' means water, so 'hydrophobia' is fear of water. Acrophobia is fear of heights, claustrophobia of closed spaces, xenophobia of foreigners.
Q22. Fill in the blank: The students listened ___ to the teacher's lecture.
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Answer: D. attentively
'Attentively' means with close attention, which is how one listens to a lecture.
Q23. Choose the synonym of 'SHUT'.
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Answer: C. Close
'Shut' means to close something, such as a door or window.
Q24. Choose the synonym of 'EXHIBIT'.
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Answer: B. Display
'Exhibit' means to show publicly, i.e. display.
Q25. Fill in the blank: She was absent ___ school yesterday.
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Answer: C. from
'Absent' is followed by 'from'.